Faculty, staff and students give nearly $1 million to the School of Medicine

Fund drive co-chair Larry Burgess, left, with John A. Burns School of Medicine Dean Jerris Hedges at the popcorn celebration.

Faculty, staff and students at the John A. Burns School of Medicne (JABSOM) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have collected nearly a million dollars for the school by reaching into their own pockets. JABSOM’s annual internal giving campaign raised $948,576 in donations and pledges—almost three times the goal of the 2015 drive.

Participation numbers were just as impressive, with 396 donors—53 percent of JABSOM faculty and staff—contributing a portion of their salaries to support the medical school’s mission. Faculty and staff are able to choose from numerous funds to support including those in their own departments or to fund always-critical missions like travel, so medical students may train on the neighbor islands.

“We appreciate the support that our faculty, staff and students provide through their philanthropy during challenging financial times,” said School of Medicine Dean Jerris Hedges. “It is a testament to their commitment to the mission of JABSOM in support of the people of Hawaiʻi.”

“The large number of dollars and donors sends a strong message that those of us who work here believe in the school’s mission,” said JABSOM Development Director Elaine Evans of the University of Hawai’i Foundation. “Clearly, JABSOM is much more than a job to us.”

Sweet thank you

Every year, the JABSOM internal giving campaign holds a mahalo event where sweet treats are offered to thank participants for choosing to give back to the school. On Friday, March 18 the school’s cafeteria smelled like a movie theater as packs of multi-colored kettle corn were distributed.